Sunscald or sunburn in top fruit accounts for yellow or flushed areas on the fruit skin due to direct sun damage often following a period of cooler, cloudy weather. In severe instances, the scald damage turns dark while the fruit is still on the tree, with the underlying tissue becoming spongy. It is also associated with poor calcium content in the fruit. A balanced crop nutrition can help avoid sunburns.
Avoiding Top Fruit Sunscald/Sunburn
Crop Nutrition and Sunscald / Sunburn
Potassium
A higher concentration of potassium in top fruit reduces the incidence of sunburn/sunscald. However, potassium needs to be in balance with calcium, as these two nutrients compete with each other and can lead to poor calcium content in fruits, resulting in storage problems and other disorders related to calcium deficiency.
Calcium
By improving calcium content in the skin and pulp, cells are less liable to damage and subsequent breakdown, thereby avoiding sunscald damage in top fruit.
Recommended Yara Fertilizers for Top Fruit
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YaraMila COMPLEX
12-4.8-14.9 + 8% S - Prilled NPK fertilizer which also contains magnesium and sulphur as well as micronutrients ideal for use on a wide range of arable and horticultural crops.
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YaraLiva TROPICOTE
15.5% N + 18.8% Ca - Granular calcium nitrate fertilizer for field application to a wide range of crops.
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YaraVita ZINTRAC 700
A fully formulated flowable liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing 700 g/l zinc for foliar application to prevent and treat zinc deficiency on a wide range of crops.
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YaraVita BORTRAC 150
A liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing 150 g/l boron for foliar application to provide additional boron or to treat boron deficiencies in a wide range of crops.
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YaraVita SENIPHOS
A liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing high concentrations of phosphate and calcium for foliar application to improve yield and quality in fruit and potatoes.
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YaraVita STOPIT
A liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing 160 g/l calcium for foliar application to control and reduce calcium related disorders in top fruit and other crops.
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YaraVita BUD BUILDER FL
A flowable liquid suspension fertilizer with nutrients and micronutrients including magnesium, zinc, nitrogen, boron and phosphate for foliar application to improve the flowering of top and soft fruit.